The veteran's lumbosacral strain is productive of severe functional impairment, but the back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it does not involve pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows decreased range of motion in all directions, including severe limitation of forward flexion, and osteoarthritis in the lumbar spine. The veteran's disability is evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5295 for lumbosacral strain with limitation of motion, which warrants a maximum evaluation of 40 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 11, 2000
- Citation
- 0000839
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0000839.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and lumbar radicopathy, right side, secondary to the lumbosacral strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
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